Global warming won't submerge Maldives: President

The ceremony held by President Waheed for Sri Lankan businessmen at the Hilton Hotel, Colombo. PHOTO/ HUSSAIN FIYAZ MOOSA

The ceremony held by President Waheed for Sri Lankan businessmen at the Hilton Hotel, Colombo. PHOTO/ HUSSAIN FIYAZ MOOSA

The ceremony held by President Waheed for Sri Lankan businessmen at the Hilton Hotel, Colombo. PHOTO/ HUSSAIN FIYAZ MOOSA

The ceremony held by President Waheed for Sri Lankan businessmen at the Hilton Hotel, Colombo. PHOTO/ HUSSAIN FIYAZ MOOSA

The ceremony held by President Waheed for Sri Lankan businessmen at the Hilton Hotel, Colombo. PHOTO/ HUSSAIN FIYAZ MOOSA

The ceremony held by President Waheed for Sri Lankan businessmen at the Hilton Hotel, Colombo. PHOTO/ HUSSAIN FIYAZ MOOSA

President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik today said though Maldives faces the dangers of climate change, the country would not be submerged in the Indian Ocean.

Speaking to Sri Lankan businessmen this morning during his current visit to Sri Lanka, President stressed that Maldives can be sustained through efforts to avert the dangers of climate change.

"First of all, I want give you a bit of good news. The good news is that the Maldives is not about to disappear," President Waheed said countering the claims by his predecessor that the Maldives would be be completely submerged in the near future.

He added that foreign investors were concerned with the talks of a submerged Maldives.

On that note, he expressed confidence that the Maldives can remain on the map by mitigating the effects of climate change and global warming.

President further pointed out that a large chunk of the budget is being spent on negating erosion, providing water and sanitation for the islets. In addition, significant efforts have been made to develop renewable energy in the Maldives to minimize expenditure on energy.

He added that the government was also assessing the recommencement of Maldives' shipping industry, while highlighting that the industry had been quite large contrary to the size of the country. He noted that though the Maldives had almost a 100 cargo ships, the fleet at present had been severely depleted.

"Considering that we are an island nation it is a very serious issue. The reason is that the ships connected us with the rest of the world especially through imports and exports," President said speaking at Hilton Hotel Colombo.

President Waheed also revealed that efforts are underway to resolve the financial and economic difficulties currently facing the Maldives, while assuring that peace and stability would be maintained by resolving the present political strife.

He further vowed to work to retain investor confidence in the Maldives.